Level shifter without dutycycle distortion

ABSTRACT

The invention involves a voltage converter device ( 101   a   , 101   b ) for converting a signal (in) at an initial voltage level (vint) into a signal (DatoV) at a second voltage level (vint) differing from the first, in which voltage converter device ( 101   a   , 101   b ) has an amplifier device ( 102 ), and where the amplifier device ( 102 ) uses a second amplifier device output signal (bout) to generate signals (DatoV) at the second voltage level (vddq).

This application claims priority of pending German Patent Application No. 102 30 168.9 filed on Jul. 4, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves a voltage converter in terms of the main concept of Claim 1.

With semi-conductor components, especially memory modules such as DRAMs (DRAM=Dynamic Random Access Memory or dynamic read/write memories) the voltage level used inside a component may differ from the voltage level used on the outside.

In particular, the internally used voltage level may be lower than the externally used voltage level; for instance, the internally used voltage level may amount to 1.8 V and the externally used voltage level to 2.5 V.

This may be due to the fact that the externally supplied voltage may for instance be subject to relatively large fluctuations and therefore usually needs to be converted to a particular internal voltage (regulated to a constant value and subject to relatively minor fluctuations only) by means of a voltage regulator, to permit the component to operate in a fault-free fashion.

The use of a voltage regulator will necessarily cause a voltage drop, which means that the internal voltage level used inside the component will be lower than the external voltage.

An internal voltage lower than the external voltage has the advantage of being able to reduce power dissipation in semi-conductor components.

Where a lower internal than external voltage is used in components, the signals generated inside the components must first be converted into signals at a correspondingly higher voltage by means of a so-called voltage converter before being emitted.

Such voltage converters may for instance contain an amplifier circuit consisting of cross-connected p or n channel field effect transistors.

The lower voltage signals internally generated in a component may be changed into correspondingly higher voltage signals—retarded with a certain delay—by means of such an amplifier circuit.

In the process, the delay occurring at the positive flank of an internal signal may differ from the delay occurring at the negative flank of the internal signal. This causes the higher-voltage signals emitted by the amplifier circuit to be distorted.

To counter this effect, the signals emitted by the amplifier circuit may be conducted to a driver stage with several—for instance two—series-connected inverters.

The inverters are arranged in such a way that the distortions contained in the signals emitted by the amplifier circuit are compensated.

The driver stage will in any event cause a relatively high—additional—signal delay; furthermore the above signal distortions can only be partially compensated by means of a voltage converter of the above kind, due to changes to the characteristics of the voltage converter components caused by temperature fluctuations.

This invention is designed to provide a novel voltage converter mechanism.

This and other aims are achieved by the subject matter as defined by Claim 1.

Further beneficial aspects are contained in the subclaims.

In terms of a basic concept of the invention, a voltage converter device is provided to convert a signal at an initial voltage level (vint) into a signal at a secondary voltage level that differs from the first voltage level (vint), for which purpose the voltage converter mechanism has an amplifier device, and whereby for the generation of the signal at the secondary voltage level (vddq) a second amplifier device output signal, different to a first amplifier device output signal—in particular complementary to it—, is used.

Advantageously, one flank of the first amplifier output signal triggers the signal at the secondary voltage level (vddq) so that it changes from a first to a second state, and a flank of the second amplifier output signal, displaced in time in relation to the flank of the first amplifier output signal, triggers the signal at the secondary voltage level (vddq) so that it changes from the second back to the first state.

It is preferable that the triggering flank of the first amplifier output signal is a positive flank, and the triggering flank of the secondary amplifier output signal is a positive flank as well (or alternatively the triggering flanks of the first and second amplifier output signals both are negative flanks).

With such a voltage converter device it may for instance be possible to almost completely compensate the distortions contained in the amplifier circuit output signals, even at relatively high temperature fluctuations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, the invention is more clearly illustrated by means of an embodiment and the attached drawings. The drawings show the following:

FIG. 1 a schematic representation of the switching device of a current state-of-the-art voltage converter;

FIG. 2 a a schematic representation of the first section of the switching device of a voltage converter as it appears in an embodiment of the above invention;

FIG. 2 b a schematic representation of another section of the switching device of the voltage converter as it appears in an embodiment of the above invention; and

FIG. 3 a schematic representation of the chronological progress of the input and output signals of the amplifier circuit in the voltage converter illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, and the distortion-free output signal of the voltage converter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a switching device of a state-of-the-art voltage converter 1. The voltage converter 1 has been installed into a DRAM memory component; for instance one based on CMOS technology. It is used to convert a voltage level used inside the memory modules (vint) to a voltage level used outside the memory modules (vddq), where the internally used voltage level (vint) is lower than the externally used voltage level (vddq). The internal voltage (vint) may for instance amount to 1.8 V, and the external voltage level (vddq) to 2.5 V.

As shown in FIG. 1, the voltage converter 1 has an amplifier circuit 2, and a driver stage 8 with a first and a second inverter 3 a, 3 b (as well as further alternative inverters not shown here).

The amplifier circuit 2 consists of four cross-connected transistors, i.e. a first and a second p-channel field effect transistor 4 a, 4 b (here two p-channel MOSFETs 4 a, 4 b), as well as a first and a second n-channel field effect transistor 5 a, 5 b (here two n-channel MOSFETs 5 a, 5 b).

The source of the first n-channel field effect transistor 5 a is earthed to ground (gnd). In the same way the source of the second n-channel field effect transistor is earthed to ground (gnd).

In addition, the gate of the first n-channel-field effect transistor 5 a is connected to a first input 6 a of the amplifier circuit 2, and the gate of the second n-channel field effect transistor 5 b to a second amplifier circuit input 6 b.

The drain of the first n-channel field effect transistor 5 a is connected to a first output 7 a, as are the gate of the second p-channel field effect transistor 4 b, and the drain of the first p-channel field effect transistor 4 a. In the same way a second amplifier circuit output 7 b is connected to the drain of the second n-channel field effect transistor 5 b, as well as to the gate of the first p-channel field effect transistor 4 a, and to the drain of the second p-channel field effect transistor 4 b.

The source of the first and second p-channel field effect transistors 4 a, 4 b is also connected to the supply voltage. This carries—as described above—a relatively high voltage level (vddq) compared to the internally used voltage.

A first internal signal (in) is carried to the first input 6 a of the DRAM memory components, and a second component-internal signal (bin) to the second input 6 b of the amplifier circuit 2.

The first and second internal signals (in or bin) are complementary to each other.

The “high logic” states of the first or second internal signals (in or bin) are essentially of equal duration to their “low logic” states. The internal signals (in or bin) carry—as illustrated above—the relatively low internally used voltage (vint) in comparison to the (higher) externally used voltage level (vddq).

With the help of the amplifier circuit 2 the internal signal (in) at the first input 6 a of the amplifier circuit 2 is converted into a signal (out) corresponding to this signal (in) and accessible at the second output 7 b of the amplifier circuit. This signal (out) carries the above-mentioned relatively high external voltage level (vddq).

If the internal signal present at the first input 6 a of the amplifier circuit changes from a “high logic” to a “low logic” state (and the complementary internal signal (bin) from a “high logic” state to a “low logic” state), the corresponding signal (out), accessible at output 7 b of the amplifier circuit 2 only changes from the “low logic” to the “high logic” state after a particular delay period d1′ as a result of internal signal delay times in the amplifier circuit 2.

In the same way, a change in the state of the internal signal (in) from “high logic” to “low logic” (and a change of the state of the complementary internal signal (bin) from “high logic” to “low logic”) causes the corresponding signal (out) to change from the “high logic” to the “low logic” state after a particular delay period d2′.

The delay period d1′ inside amplifier circuit 2—occurring at a positive flank of the internal signal (in)—differs from the internal delay period d2′ in the amplifier circuit 2 at a negative flank of the internal signal (in) as a result of differing signal delay times in the amplifier circuit 2. This causes distortion of the signal (out) accessible at 7 b (especially because its “high logic” state lasts longer than its “low logic” state, and is not essentially of the same duration, which would be ideal.)

To counteract this effect, the signal (out) accessible at output 7 b of the amplifier circuit 2 is connected by means of a conductor 9 to an input of the first inverter 3 a, whose output 11 is connected to an input of the second inverter 3 b by means of a conductor 10.

During a change in the state of the signals (out) accessible at output 7 b of the amplifier circuit from “low logic” to “high logic” (or conversely when the state of the signals “out” change from “high logic” to “low logic”) the signal at output 11 of the first inverter 3 a changes its state from “high logic” to “low logic”(or conversely, from “low logic” to “high logic”), according to delay times that differ from each other; consequently the output signal (DatoV) accessible at an output 12 of the second inverter 2 b, also changes from a “low logic” state to a “high logic” state, or conversely from a “high logic” to a “low logic” state (again according to delay times that differ from each other).

The inverters 3 a, 3 b—especially the varying delay times caused by them, which differ from positive to negative signal flanks—are so arranged that the delay time d1 occurring between the signal (in) present at the positive signal flank of input 6 a of the amplifier 2, and the corresponding output signal (DatoV) emitted by the positive signal flank at the second inverter 3 b, is as large in total as the delay time d2 occurring between the negative signal flank of the signal (in) and a corresponding negative signal flank of the output signal (DatoV).

In this way compensation of the distortion of the signal (out) present at output 7 b of the amplifier circuit is maintained (so that, for instance, a “low logic” state of the output signal (DatoV) at output 12 of the second inverter 3 b essentially lasts as long as its “high logic” state).

The driver stage 8 leads to a relatively high (additional) signal delay; furthermore, due to component inaccuracies or changes in the characteristics of components caused by temperature fluctuations, the distortions caused by a voltage converter of the type described above can only be partially compensated.

FIG. 2 a is a schematic representation of the first section 101 a of a circuit configuration of a voltage converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The voltage converter is installed in a CMOS technology based memory component and is especially suited to be used as an OCD (off-chip driver) component of the DRAM memory components, or for instance as a DLL (delay locked loop) component.

By means of the voltage converter an internal voltage level (vint) used inside the DRAM memory components is changed into an external voltage level (vddq) used outside the memory components—here the internally used voltage level (vint) is lower than the externally used voltage level (vddq).

The internal voltage level (vint) may for instance amount to 1.8 V—or alternatively 1.5 V, and the external voltage level (vddq) for example to 2.5 V or also to 1.8 V, for example.

FIG. 2 a shows that the first section 101 a of the voltage converter contains an amplifier circuit 102, and two parallel driver stages, each containing an inverter 103 a, 103 b as well as a transmission gate or transfer element 113 a, 113 b.

The amplifier circuit 102 consists of several transistors, in particular four cross-connected ones: a first and a second p-channel field effect transistor 104 a, 104 b (here two p-channel MOSFETs 104 a, 104 b), as well as a first and a second n-channel field effect transistor 105 a, 105 b (here two n-channel MOSFETs 105 a, 105 b).

The source of the first n-channel field effect transistor 105 a is earthed to ground (gnd). In the same way the source of the second n-channel field effect transistor 105 b is also earthed to ground (gnd).

Furthermore the gate of the first n-channel field effect transistor 105 a is connected to a first input 106 a of the amplifier circuit 102, and the gate of the second n-channel field effect transistor 105 b to a second amplifier circuit input 106 b.

The drain of the first n-channel field effect transistor 105 a is connected to a first input 107 a of the amplifier circuit 102, as well as to the gate of the second p-channel field effect transistor 104 b, and to the drain of the first p-channel field effect transistor 104 a. In the same way a second amplifier circuit output 107 b is connected to the second n-channel field effect transistor 105 b, as well as to the gate of the first p-channel field effect transistor 104 a, and to the drain of the second p-channel field effect transistor 104 b.

The sources of the first and second p-channel field effect transistors 104 a, 104 b are both connected to the supply voltage. As mentioned above, this supply is at a relatively high voltage level (vddq) compared to the internally used voltage.

The amplifier circuit 102 carries a first internal signal (in) of the DRAM memory components to the first input 106 a, and a second component-internal signal (bin) to the second input 106 b of the amplifier circuit 102.

The first and second internal signals (in or bin) are complementary to each other.

In addition, the “high logic” states of the first or second internal signals (in or bin) last as long as their “low logic” states.

As mentioned above, the internal signals (in or bin) carry the relatively lower internally used voltage level (vint), compared to the externally used voltage level (vddq).

With the help of the amplifier circuit 102 the internal signal (in) at the first amplifier circuit input 106 a is changed into a corresponding signal (out) accessible at the second output 107 b of the amplifier circuit 102, as well as into a signal (bout) complementary to this signal (out), which can be tapped at the first output 107 a of the amplifier circuit 102.

The signals (out or bout), accessible at the first and second amplifier circuit outputs 107 a, 107 b carry the relatively high external voltage level (vddq), compared to the voltage level (vint) used in internal signals.

If the internal signal (in) present at the first input 106 a of the amplifier circuit 102 changes from a “low logic” to a “high logic” state (and the complementary internal signal (bin) from a “high logic” to a “low logic”) state, then according to FIG. 3, the signal (out) present at the second output 107 b of the amplifier circuit 102 only changes its state from “low logic” to “high logic”, after a certain delay period d1′ due to internal signal delays inside the amplifier circuit (and—after a delay period d2″ that differs from the delay period d1′—the signal (bout) present at the first output 107 a changes from “high logic” to “low logic”).

Similarly, during a change in the states of the internal signal (in) from “high logic” to “low logic” (and a change in the state of the complementary internal signals (bin) from “low logic” to “high logic”) then according to FIG. 3 the signal (out) present at the second output 107 b only changes its state from “high logic ” to “low logic” after a certain delay period d2′ (and—after a delay period d1″ that differs from the delay period d2′—the signal (bout) present at the first output 107 a changes from “low logic” “high logic”).

Due to varying internal delay periods inside the amplifier circuit, the delay period d1′ occurring at a positive flank of the internal signal (in) on the signal (out), (or at negative flank of the complementary signal (bin)), differs from the delay period d2′ occurring at a negative flank of the internal signal (in) on the signal (out), (or at a positive flank of the complementary signal (bin)).

Similarly the delay period d2″ occurring at a positive flank of the internal signal (in) at the complementary signal (bout), differs from the delay period d1″ occurring at a negative flank of the internal signal (in) on the complementary signal (bout).

This has the effect—as shown in FIG. 3—that the signals (out or bout) present at the first and second outputs 7 a, 7 b are distorted (especially that their “low logic” states last longer than their “high logic” states and not, which would be ideal, that they last equally long.)

To compensate for this effect, a characteristic of the voltage converter shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b is used (also shown in FIG. 3) namely that the delay period d1′ occurring at a positive flank of the internal signals (in) on the signal (out) is as long—due to the symmetrical construction of the amplifier circuit 102—as the delay period d1″ occurring at a negative flank of the internal signals (in) on the complementary signal (bout) (or conversely, that the delay period d2′ occurring at a negative flank of the internal signal (in) on the signal (out) is as long as the delay period d2″ occurring at a positive flank of the internal signal (in) on the complementary signal (bout)).

As shown in detail in FIG. 2 a, the signal (out) present at the second output 107 b of the amplifier circuit 102 of the voltage converter is connected by means of a conductor 109 b to an input of the second inverter 103 b according to the prototype shown, while the complementary signal (bout) present at the first output 107 a of the amplifier circuit 102 is connected to an input of the first Inverter 103 a by means of a conductor 109 a.

Both inverters 103 a, 103 b consist of an n- and a p-channel field effect transistor each, while the source of each n-channel field effect transistor is earthed to ground (gnd), and the source of each p-channel field effect transistor to the supply voltage (vddq). The field effect transistors used in the inverters 103 a, 103 b are thus always working in the source circuit, and amplify input voltages present at each inverter input by inversion, whereby each of the field effect transistors of the inverters 103 a, 103 b constitute the operating resistance for every other field effect transistor.

As shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the signal (out), present at the second output 107 b of the amplifier circuit 102, has an additional connection (apart from conductor 109 b connected to the second inverter 103 b) to the first control input of the transmission gate 113 b by means of a conductor 111 b.

Similarly the complementary signal (bout) present at the first output 107 a of the amplifier circuit 102 has an additional connection (apart from the connection to the first Inverter 103 a by means of conductor 109 a) to the first control input of the first transmission gate 113 a by means of the conductor 111 a.

As further shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the output of the first Inverter 103 a is connected by means of conductor 110 a to a second, complementary control input of the first transmission gates 113 a, and the output of the second inverter 103 b to a second, complementary control input of the second transmission gate 113 b by means of a conductor 110 b.

The transmission gates 113 a, 113 b have an n-, and a p-channel field effect transistor each, while each first control input of transmission gates 113 a, 113 b is connected to the gate of the first, and each second, complementary control input of transmission gates 113 a, 113 b is connected to the gate of the second field effect transistor.

In addition the drain or source of the n- or p-channel field effect transistor of the first transmission gate (i.e. the inlet or output of the first transmission gate 113 a) is connected to ground (gnd), or to an output 112 of the voltage converter by means of a conductor 114 a.

In contrast, the source of the n- or p-channel field effect transistor (i.e. the inlet or output of the second transmission gate 113 b) is connected to the supply voltage (vddg), or by means of conductor 114 b to the voltage converter output 112.

This has the following effect: as soon as the signal (out) tapped at the second output 107 b of the amplifier circuit 102 and connected to the first control input of the second transmission gate 113 b by means of the conductor 111 b, changes from “low logic” to “high logic” (and the complementary signal (outb) fed in via the conductor 110 b changes from “high logic” to “low logic”), the supply voltage (vddq) at the input of the second transmission gate 113 b is switched through to the transmission gate output, and from there via conductor 114 b to the voltage converter output 112.

In this way, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the output signal present at the voltage converter output 112 (DatoV) changes from a “low logic” to a “high logic” state.

If the signal (out), tapped at the second output 107 b of the amplifier circuit 102 then again changes from “high logic” to “low logic”(and the complementary signal (outb) changes from “low logic” to “high logic”), the supply voltage (vddq) present at the input of the second transmission gate 113 b is again disconnected from the second transmission gate 113 b; the output signal (DatoV) at voltage converter output 112 as shown in Figure however still stays at the “high logic” state.

Only then, when the signal (bout), tapped at the first output 107 a of the amplifier circuit 102 and connected via conductor 111 a to the first control input of the first transmission gate 113 a, changes from “low logic” to “high logic” (and the complementary signal (boutb) from “high logic” to “low logic”), does the first transmission gate 113 a and consequently the output of the first transmission gate 113 a become conductive—and via conductor 114 a also the output 112 of the voltage converter—and earthed to ground (gnd).

In the process, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the output signal (DatoV) present at the voltage converter output 112 changes from a “high logic” to a “low logic” state.

If the signal (bout) tapped at the first output 107 a of the amplifier circuit 102 then again changes its state from “high logic” to “low logic”, the input of the first transmission gate 113 a is again disconnected from its output; the output signal (DatoV) at the voltage converter output 112 however still remains at a “low logic” state as shown in FIG. 3 (because the inlet and output at the second transmission gate 113 a are disconnected from each other for the time being, i.e. the supply voltage (vddq) present at the input of the second transmission gate 113 b has not yet been connected to its output).

The output signal (DatoV) present at the voltage converter output 112 then—in contrast to the signals (bout or out) present at outputs 107 a or 107 of the amplifier circuit 102—shows no (or only negligible) distortion; in particular the “low logic” state of the output signal (DatoV) is essentially equal in length to its “high logic” state.

The voltage converter shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b only experiences relatively minor (additional) signal distortion. In addition, the distortions in the amplifier circuit output signals (bout or out) are almost completely compensated by the voltage converter as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, even at high temperature fluctuations (and the consequent changes in the characteristics of components used).

REFERENCE LIST

-   1 Voltage converter -   2 Amplifier circuit -   3 a Inverter -   3 b Inverter -   4 a p-Channel field effect transistor -   4 b p-Channel field effect transistor -   5 a n-Channel field effect transistor -   5 b n-Channel field effect transistor -   6 a Input -   6 b Input -   7 a Output -   7 b Output -   8 Driver stage -   9 Conductor -   10 Conductor -   11 Output -   12 Output -   101 a Voltage converter section -   101 b Voltage converter section -   102 Amplifier circuit -   103 a Inverter -   103 b Inverter -   104 a p-Channel field effect transistor -   104 b p-Channel field effect transistor -   105 a n-Channel field effect transistor -   105 b n-Channel field effect transistor -   106 a Input -   106 b Input -   107 a Output -   107 b Output -   109 a Conductor -   109 b Conductor -   110 a Conductor -   110 b Conductor -   111 a Conductor -   111 b Conductor -   112 Output -   113 a Transmission gate -   113 b Transmission gate -   114 a Conductor -   114 b Conductor 

1. A voltage converter device for converting a signal at an initial voltage level into a signal at a second voltage level which is different to the initial voltage level, the voltage converter device comprising an amplifier device, wherein for generating signals at the second voltage level, a first and a second output signal of the amplifier device are used, and wherein the second output signal of the amplifier device differs from the first output signal of the amplifier device, the voltage converter additionally comprising a first and second transmission gate; the first transmission gate being driven by the first output signal of the amplifier device, and the second transmission gate being driven by the second output signal of the amplifier device; an output of the first transmission gate being connected to an output of the second transmission gate to form the signal at the second voltage level.
 2. A voltage converter device according to claim 1, in which the first and the second output signals are mutually complementary signals.
 3. A voltage converter device according to claim 1, in which a flank of the first output signal triggers the signal at the second voltage level to change from a first state to a second state, and in which a flank displaced in time in relation to the flank of the first output signal, triggers the signal at the second voltage level to change from the second state back into the first state.
 4. A voltage converter device according to claim 3, in which the triggering flank of the first output signal is a positive flank, and the triggering flank of the second output signal is also a positive flank.
 5. A voltage converter device according to claim 3, in which the triggering flank of the first output signal is a negative flank, and the triggering flank of the second output signal is also a negative flank.
 6. A voltage converter device according to claim 3, in which the second output signal, or a signal derived from it, is used to switch through an input of the second transmission gate to the output of the second transmission gate.
 7. A voltage converter device according to claim 6, in which the outputs of the transmission gates are connected to each other.
 8. A voltage converter device according to claim 7, in which the first voltage level is lower than the second voltage level.
 9. A voltage converter device according to claim 8, in which the first voltage level varies from 1.2 V to 1.9 V, but more particularly from 1.4 V to 1.6 V, and the second voltage level from 1.5 V to 2.2 V, but more particularly from 1.7 V to 1.9 V.
 10. A voltage converter device according to claim 9, in which the amplifier device has several cross-connected transistors.
 11. A voltage converter device according to claim 10, in which the transistors are field effect transistors.
 12. A voltage converter device according to claim 1, in which the first output signal of the amplifier device or a signal derived from it, is used to switch through an input of the first transmission gate to the output of the first transmission gate.
 13. A voltage converter device that converts a first signal having an initial voltage level to a second signal having a second voltage level that is different from the initial voltage level, comprising: an amplifier device for generating a first output signal and a second output signal, the second output signal being different from the first output signal; a first transmission gate driven by the first output signal and having an output; a second transmission gate driven by the second output signal and having an output; the first transmission gate output being connected to the second transmission gate output to form the second signal. 